When the eloquent Apollos arrived in Ephesus around 54 AD, he was on fire for God. This Alexandrian Jew was "a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures" who "spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately" (Acts 18:24-25). There was just one problem: he only knew the baptism of John.
A Gentle Correction at Home
In the congregation that day sat a remarkable couple—Aquila and Priscilla. They had met Paul in Corinth, worked alongside him as fellow tentmakers, and been thoroughly grounded in the full gospel of Christ. Now they listened to Apollos and recognized both his gifts and his gaps.
What happened next is telling. They did not publicly correct him or dismiss his ministry. Instead, "they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately" (Acts 18:26). Notice that Priscilla is mentioned alongside her husband as a teacher—and in four of the six biblical references to this couple, her name appears first.
Shaping One of Christianity's Greatest Voices
The result of this private instruction was extraordinary. Apollos went on to become one of the most powerful preachers in the early church. Paul would later write of the Corinthians, "I planted, Apollos watered" (1 Corinthians 3:6). The eloquent preacher who "vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ" (Acts 18:28) had been discipled in the home of a tentmaker and his wife.
Priscilla's story speaks to every believer who wonders whether their contribution matters. She never wrote an epistle or founded a church, but she shaped one of Christianity's greatest orators. In the economy of God's kingdom, those who teach the teachers multiply their impact beyond measure.